On the Piste – Wines of the Alps - £25.00
Tufnell Park - Wednesday 29 FebruaryGreenwich - Thursday 1 March
You don’t need a ski lift or a leg in plaster to enjoy this romp around the higher altitude vineyards linking France, Switzerland, Italy and Slovenia. The high altitudes and south facing slopes the sunny days and cold nights are perfect for maturing grapes while preserving freshness. In fact, the wines of the Alto Adige in northern Italy achieve such power and concentration that even the humble Pinot Bianco can age for up to 30 years. A good range of wines that features classic grapes alongside rarities like Trousseau, Savagnin, Roussane, Lagrein and Petite Arvine.
A Tasting Dinner at the Guildford Arms - £55.00
Greenwich - Wednesday 7 March
Join us for the second dinner and tasting at Guy Awford’s super new restaurant upstairs at The Guildford Arms (55 Guildford Grove, Greenwich SE10 8JY). The theme for the 5 course dinner is a tantalising ‘Spring in Burgundy’, which gives us the scope for equal measures of great gastronomy and supremely elegant wines. We have kept the ticket price notably modest, all we ask is that you bring some pennies to give the hard working waiters and kitchen assistants a minimum 12.5% service charge. We will kick off with a tasting at 7.30pm before sitting down to dinner at 8.00pm. Tickets are limited so please confirm your interest as soon as possible.
The Wild South-West: Wines of the Pyrenees - £28.00
Tufnell Park - Wednesday 7 MarchGreenwich - Thursday 8 March
For centuries dominated by the protectionism of Bordeaux, the truth is that the wines of the High Country as it was known were once much more popular than Claret. These are wines of great character and diversity, and the theme allows us to straddle the border of Spain for a quick trip to the little known Calatyud region and the popular wines of Pamela Geddes. Back in France savour the delights of Marcillac, Cahors, Jurancon, Madiran, Fronton, accompanied by rustic saucisson sec and Basque sheep cheeses from the region.
The New New World - £30.00
Tufnell Park - Wednesday 14 MarchGreenwich - Thursday 15 March
We have been working hard on building a range of wines from smaller, cutting edge producers from New World countries like Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the Americas. In the past the focus was often more on brand than region, but now producers are making the commitment to expressing the unique character of particular vineyards and regions. New wines from Dry Creek and Santa Cruz in California, Pemberton and Mt Barker in Western Australia will be featured alongside established favourites like Dog Point and Felton Road from New Zealand.
Old Vines, New Wines - £24.00
Tufnell Park - Wednesday 21 MarchGreenwich - Thursday 22 March
This season of tastings is a celebration of region and diversity, and this evening’s selection looks at grape varieties that thrive in those places outside the classic zones. These less familiar varieties are in fact perfectly adapted to the climate and soils of their regions, and many are very old vines indeed. With our passion for the eclectic we have a diverse offering covering a trio of exciting grapes from Naples (Fiano di Avellino, Greco di Tufo, Aglianico), a gaggle of central European specialities (Xynomavro, Mavrud, Melnik), and unctuous Zibbobo (aka the ancient Muscat of Alexandria).
Loire Valley: Garden of Eden - £27.50
Tufnell Park - Wednesday 28 MarchGreenwich - Thursday 29 March
The sleepy Loire valley may not be the first place that springs to mind when you think of revolutionary new winemaking styles, but it's a hotbed of experimentation with both old grape varieties and new techniques in the cellar, such as low – or no – sulphur. We'll be tasting everything from classic sauvignon blancs in Menetou Salon to food-friendly dry chenin blanc, not to mention distinctive reds from cabernet franc and pineau d'aunis, all accompanied by the famous, delicious cheeses that have put the Loire on the gastronomic map.
